Change Your Life

According to a study at the University of Arizona in 2007 (Dr. Matthias Mehls), the average person speaks about 16,000 words a day. That is a significant number of words, even for a talkative person like me!

With so many words spoken daily, the quality of our speech is important. Are your words life-giving or are they discouraging? How you talk to yourself and others reveals much about your identity. Your daily language reveals who you choose to be. Read More

Have you always wanted to live from the heart? It’s that place deep down inside that represents the true you. For me, my heart represents my spirit. It’s the center of my being. It’s that piece of me that God created uniquely different from everyone else, that hears the Holy Spirit and responds to God. To live from the heart means that I am real and authentic in all that I do. Where ever I go and whatever I do, I want that authentic, God-centered person to shine through. But, is that what really happens in life? Read More

I discovered through the school of hard knocks is that God WILL fix your mistakes. If you pursue a relationship with Him, He will redeem and restore those parts of you that were lost through poor choices. It’s a process available to each and every one one of us!

Transitions are Challenging

Let’s face it. Embracing unexpected change isn’t always easy. If you are like me, you are happiest when you are cruising along in life, enjoying your relationships, finding passion in your work, and engaged in a community.

Then, boom!! The unexpected happens. You don’t see it coming.

Or, maybe you did. In fact, maybe you initiated the change, but you didn’t quite understand the potential impact.

The key is that something important in your life shifts. New choices and decisions are looming.

More than 50 years of research has demonstrated that emotional resilience is the KEY to success in life. It is a better indicator of success than your intelligence! Resilient people learn to overcome adversity and find success in the process. Are you a resilient overcomer?

What is Emotional Resilience?

Resilience measures your ability to bounce back when you face challenges.

As I was mowing the lawn, I was amazed to hear a constant buzzing in the apple tree above my head. I stopped and watched the bees moving gracefully, but at a frantic pace, from blossom to blossom gathering nectar and pollinating the tree. Bees are very mission-minded – they have to visit 5 million flowers to produce a single pint of honey! Amazing. There is no rest for these industrious creatures.

Living at a Frantic Pace

Do you observe that many people have a frantic pace of life, like a worker bee? Frantic people are agitated, easily excitable, hurried, and always have somewhere to be or something else to do. They never have time for the moment at hand.

I found myself living at a frantic pace throughout my consulting career. I was constantly busy as I cared for my family, managed large-scale projects, and tried to stay involved with church and friends. For me, it was unsustainable over time. I was like a worker bee trying to visit those millions of flowers! Crazy… Read More

The truth is – our life is short. What we do with our time really does matter.

Personally, I have a new filter – a new decision mechanism for how I will use my time and where I will invest my life. I think it’s an important principle for living successfully.

It’s called – E M B R A C E.

Embracing others means to accept or support someone willingly and enthusiastically – to welcome someone with open arms. It also means to hold someone close in one’s arms, especially as a sign of affection. Embrace is a word of peace and comfort.

Personally, I hope to experience a sense of EMBRACE wherever I choose to be involved, including in my work. Being welcomed and supported, like in a loving relationship, is such a delight and a key to joyful living.

I was reminded of the joy of embracing others after attending two different events over the course of a few days. I encountered two distinct atmospheres in light of my new filter.

One event was like a bustling, small town coffee shop where everyone mattered. The atmosphere was inviting and warm. People who I spoke with were authentic and real. They were happily engaged in the event and definitely embraced others.

The other event was somewhat sterile and cold, like a college classroom. And, although they were teaching on important spiritual matters, there was limited interest in warmly engaging the participants. I asked myself why I was there. Was this engagement worth my time?

Although a simple example, I realized that I experienced two very distinct and different cultures. There are cultures everywhere we go – family, work, churches, schools, and communities. All have distinct characteristics that either embrace others or ignore those seeking to belong.

In the midst of all these cultures, I have been asking myself, “Where do I want to belong?” Why, where I am embraced, of course!

Now, it’s not all me – I know that! Embracing others around me is a priority each and very day. I want to host an atmosphere of love wherever I am. Jesus did it and so can we!

Here are my criteria for being embraced and embracing others:

Welcoming spirit-filled atmosphere

Joyful hearts

Open attitudes

Genuine, personal interest

Helping hand

What are your criteria?

Do you think that seeking to be embraced will encourage more intentional joy? Let’s not waste time where we do not belong, unless we are being called by God. But, that’s a discussion for another day!